A growing number of students in the diaspora are turning to online courses to learn Igbo, a Nigerian language, as they seek to reconnect with their heritage and communicate with family members. This trend is fueled by a desire to overcome barriers to intergenerational communication and maintain cultural identity.
One student, speaking anonymously, noted that their Igbo class was a current favorite, having taken elementary Igbo in the past year. This sentiment reflects a broader movement among children of Nigerian immigrants to actively engage with the language of their parents and grandparents.
Several organizations are now offering structured Igbo language education online. IgboClass.com, for example, advertises itself as the “most structured Igbo school for children and diaspora families,” promising students can begin speaking the language within four weeks. The platform offers courses tailored for beginners, heritage learners and families living outside of Nigeria.
Igbostudy.com specifically targets children, offering live online lessons via Zoom designed to facilitate conversation with family in Nigeria. The program, priced at £97 or £167 for 12 weeks depending on lesson frequency, aims to equip children with the vocabulary and confidence to participate in family gatherings and connect with their roots. Testimonials on the site highlight the program’s success in fostering intergenerational communication, with one parent stating their child now practices Igbo with relatives.
EduRev.in provides an “Elementary Level” Igbo course focused on vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, and conversational skills. Completion of the course results in a certification. The platform also offers focused video lessons on specific grammatical concepts, such as pronoun usage and vowel harmony, as well as tone marking, a crucial element of the Igbo language.
Kpakpando Children’s Books offers a free “Basic Igbo Class” as a prerequisite for more advanced instruction, introducing students to the Igbo alphabet, numbers, and pronunciation. I-hav.org provides a reviewed lesson plan for Igbo, focusing on introduction to the language, regions where We see spoken, and the alphabet, including familiarization with sound patterns through folktales.
These initiatives address a clear need within the diaspora community to preserve and promote the Igbo language, ensuring its continued vitality for future generations. The availability of online resources is particularly significant, removing geographical barriers and providing accessible learning opportunities.